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Table of Contents

Causes

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Toxicity refers to how poisonous or harmful a substance can be. In pharmacology, drug toxicity occurs when a person has accumulated too much of a prescription drug in their bloodstream, leading to negative effects.

Drug toxicity is formally defined as “a diverse array of adverse effects which are brought about through drug use at either therapeutic or non-therapeutic doses.“Learn how drug toxicity occurs, the signs it may exist, and how drug toxicity is treated.

Drug Toxicity vs. Drug OverdoseDrug toxicity anddrug overdoseare often confused. One difference is that drug toxicity generally occurs over time, while drug overdose happens when too much of a substance is consumed at once. Drug toxicity is typically accidental, while drug overdose can be either accidental or intentional.

Drug Toxicity vs. Drug Overdose

Drug toxicity anddrug overdoseare often confused. One difference is that drug toxicity generally occurs over time, while drug overdose happens when too much of a substance is consumed at once. Drug toxicity is typically accidental, while drug overdose can be either accidental or intentional.

Causes of Drug Toxicity

Drug toxicity can occur as a result of the over-ingestion of medication, causing too much of the drug to be in a person’s system at once.This can happen if the dose taken exceeds the prescribed amount, or if the prescribed dosage is too high.

With certain medications, drug toxicity can also occur as an adverse drug reaction.In this case, the normal therapeutic dose of the drug can cause unintentional, harmful, and unwantedside effects.

In some cases, the threshold between an effective dose and a toxic dose is very narrow. A therapeutic dose for one person might be toxic to another person.Plus, drugs with a longerhalf-lifecan build up in a person’s bloodstream and increase over time, resulting in drug toxicity.

Additionally, factors such as age, kidney function, and hydration can affect how quickly your body is able to clear a medication from your system.This is why medications such as lithium require frequent blood testing to track the levels in the bloodstream.

Three factors determine the toxicity of a toxin or prescription drug. They are:Chemical structureHow much the body can absorbThe body’s ability to detoxify and eliminate the substance

Three factors determine the toxicity of a toxin or prescription drug. They are:

Symptoms of Drug Toxicity

How do you know if you or someone you know is experiencing drug toxicity effects? Drug toxicity symptoms can differ depending on the medication you are taking. In the case of lithium, for instance, mild symptoms of acutelithium toxicity(which is drug toxicity after taking the drug one time) can include:

More severe symptoms of acute lithium toxicity may appear in the form of:

Chronic lithium toxicity—or drug toxicity resulting from a slow build-up over time—displays different symptoms, including slurred speech, tremors, and increased reflexes.

Tegretol (carbamazepine)is a drug often prescribed for epilepsy but also used to help treat mental health conditions such asschizophreniaandbipolar disorder. Some patients with carbamazepine toxicity have experienced symptoms including:

In cases of severe carbamazepine toxicity, symptoms can include:

This is why it is important to read medication labels carefully. Also, ask your healthcare provider about the signs and symptoms of drug toxicity for any medication that you are taking, since they can differ from drug to drug.

Diagnosis of Drug Toxicity

Acute drug toxicity is more easily diagnosed as the symptoms follow the taking of the medication just one time.Blood testscan also screen for levels of the medication in the bloodstream, showing whether these levels are too high.

Treatment of Drug Toxicity

There are several ways drug toxicity may be treated. If the toxicity results from an acute overdose, a person may undergo stomach pumping to remove drugs that have not yet been absorbed.

Activated charcoal is another drug toxicity treatment option. It can be used to bind the drug, preventing it from being absorbed into the blood. (If this approach is used, the drug is eliminated from the body through stool). Other medications may also be given as an antidote for drug toxicity.

If you believe that you or someone else has symptoms of drug toxicity or overdose, contact medical services immediately. Quick treatment can result in fewer complications.

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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dasgupta M.Neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and drug toxicity – a review.Adv Clin Toxicol. 2018;3(1):000S1-001.Silakari O, Singh PK.ADMET tools: Prediction and assessment of chemical ADMET properties of NCEs. In:Concepts and Experimental Protocols of Modelling and Informatics in Drug Design. Elsevier; 2021:299-320. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-820546-4.00014-3Schulz M, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Andresen H, Schmoldt A.Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of nearly 1,000 drugs and other xenobiotics.Crit Care. 2012;16(4):R136. doi:10.1186/cc11441Department of Labor and Industries.Understanding toxic substances. Purdue University.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lithium carbonate capsule.Wirfs L, Whitworth K, Kellar J.Nystagmus associated with carbamazepine toxicity.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2017;1(4):441-442. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2017.6.34772

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dasgupta M.Neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and drug toxicity – a review.Adv Clin Toxicol. 2018;3(1):000S1-001.Silakari O, Singh PK.ADMET tools: Prediction and assessment of chemical ADMET properties of NCEs. In:Concepts and Experimental Protocols of Modelling and Informatics in Drug Design. Elsevier; 2021:299-320. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-820546-4.00014-3Schulz M, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Andresen H, Schmoldt A.Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of nearly 1,000 drugs and other xenobiotics.Crit Care. 2012;16(4):R136. doi:10.1186/cc11441Department of Labor and Industries.Understanding toxic substances. Purdue University.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lithium carbonate capsule.Wirfs L, Whitworth K, Kellar J.Nystagmus associated with carbamazepine toxicity.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2017;1(4):441-442. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2017.6.34772

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Dasgupta M.Neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and drug toxicity – a review.Adv Clin Toxicol. 2018;3(1):000S1-001.Silakari O, Singh PK.ADMET tools: Prediction and assessment of chemical ADMET properties of NCEs. In:Concepts and Experimental Protocols of Modelling and Informatics in Drug Design. Elsevier; 2021:299-320. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-820546-4.00014-3Schulz M, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Andresen H, Schmoldt A.Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of nearly 1,000 drugs and other xenobiotics.Crit Care. 2012;16(4):R136. doi:10.1186/cc11441Department of Labor and Industries.Understanding toxic substances. Purdue University.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lithium carbonate capsule.Wirfs L, Whitworth K, Kellar J.Nystagmus associated with carbamazepine toxicity.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2017;1(4):441-442. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2017.6.34772

Dasgupta M.Neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity and drug toxicity – a review.Adv Clin Toxicol. 2018;3(1):000S1-001.

Silakari O, Singh PK.ADMET tools: Prediction and assessment of chemical ADMET properties of NCEs. In:Concepts and Experimental Protocols of Modelling and Informatics in Drug Design. Elsevier; 2021:299-320. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-820546-4.00014-3

Schulz M, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Andresen H, Schmoldt A.Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of nearly 1,000 drugs and other xenobiotics.Crit Care. 2012;16(4):R136. doi:10.1186/cc11441

Department of Labor and Industries.Understanding toxic substances. Purdue University.

U.S. National Library of Medicine.Lithium carbonate capsule.

Wirfs L, Whitworth K, Kellar J.Nystagmus associated with carbamazepine toxicity.Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2017;1(4):441-442. doi:10.5811/cpcem.2017.6.34772

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